Laser depilating method, skin holding tool and glove and finger stall

ABSTRACT

A method of attaining depilation by laser beam more effectively by enabling a laser beam the output of which is repressed to an extent of avoiding exertion of an effect on the peripheral tissue to reach a depth in the approximate range of 5-6 mm from the surface of the skin. The method of depilation attains required depilation by pulling out the skin of a subject and compressing the drawn skin thereby transforming part of the skin into a flap and emitting a laser beam to the region of the skin transformed into the flap.

TECHNICAL FIELD

A method of cosmetic surgery, and more particularly to a technique oflaser depilation for removing a hair from the skin of a subject by theexposure of the skin to a laser beam and peripheral implements therefor.

BACKGROUND ART

The laser has been finding utility in various applications and has beenproducing prominent results therein. In the application to the removalof creases and the removal of birthmarks, it has come to bring excellentresults in the medical field and the cosmetic field. In the last fewyears, the technique of depilation using the laser has been reaching thestage of materialization and the range of applications of the laser inthe field of cosmetics has been expanding. The treatments with the laserare performed on the basis of the common principle that the skin isirradiated with the laser of a wavelength fit for absorption exclusivelyby a particular substance subjected to a particular treatment.

In the case of the depilation with the laser, for example, the treatmentof depilation is carried out by irradiating the skin with a laser of awavelength fit for absorption by the color of the hair subjected to thetreatment. This technique is capable of selectively rupturing both ahair embedded in the interior of the skin and the tissue giving birth tothis particular hair and is at a great advantage in permitting easy andinfallible depilation without requiring any more trouble than the othermethod of depilation.

The method of laser depilation described above, however, does notnecessarily eliminate need of improvement. Specifically, since themaximum depth of reach which the laser beam is allowed to attain in theskin from the surface without affecting the surface tissue of the skinis in the approximate range of 3-5 mm, it is in fact difficult to makethe laser beam reach a depth greater than this maximum. Granted that thelaser beam barely reaches the depth of this order, though this laserbeam may perform a satisfactory treatment on a thin hair (having thedepth of hair root of 2-3 mm from the surface of the skin), it willencounter difficulty in effectively treating a thick hair (having thedepth of hair root of 5-6 mm from the surface of the skin) which placesa serious demand on the treatment. If the treatment is insufficient, itwill possibly result in increasing the ratio of regeneration of thetreated hair. The difficulty similarly arises in the removal of a creaseor in the removal of a birthmark for the sake of cure. At present, it isan urgent problem to find a way of enabling the laser beam to reach adeep portion of the skin.

This invention, therefore, aims to effectuate efficiently a method forlaser depilation by aforementioned method in a manner such that thelaser beam used with the output thereof repressed to the extent ofavoiding exertion of an adverse effect on the peripheral tissue may beenabled to reach a depth in the approximate range of 5-6 mm from thesurface of the skin and also aims to provide, in addition to thetechnique of laser depilation, such implements as are applicable to theremoval of a birthmark and the removal of a crease, i.e. the techniqueswhich have the same problem as the aforementioned method, and capable offacilitating the treatments under discussion as well.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To solve the problem mentioned above, the method of this invention forlaser depilation is based on a method of laser depilation resorting toexposure of the skin of a subject to a laser beam and is inteded toeffect depilation by pulling out the subject's skin and compressing itthereby deforming part of the skin into a flap and irradiating theregion of the skin deformed into the flap with the laser beam. In thismethod of laser depilation, by causing a hair embedded in the skin to belaid sideways in accordance with a very simple procedure of deformingand compressing the skin thereby transforming the relevant part of theskin into a thin flap, it is made possible to irradiate the skin with alaser beam, with the root of the hair in a deep position approximatedclosely to the surface of the skin. Consequently, it is made possible tohave the laser beam reach the subject of treatment such as the hair rootwithout requiring to increase the output of the laser beam and bringabout the same result as when the laser beam is made to reach a deepposition.

For the purpose of implementing this method, it is necessary that theskin of a subject be pulled out till part thereof forms a flap and theskin thus transformed into the flap be retained in a compressed state.This action can be readily produced by the user of the method of thisinvention pinching the skin in his own hand. In this case, however, theuser implementing the method of depilation is preferred to wear on hisperson such finger sacks or glove which is impervious to the laser beamin consideration of the possibility of his hand being irradiatedexcessively with the laser beam. The finger sacks or the glove mentionedabove can be obtained as with a rubber composition incorporating thereina substance capable of absorbing and reflecting the laser beam.

The retention of the skin can be attained not only by resorting to the“hand” as described above but also by utilizing a skin retaining devicewhich is provided with a retaining means and adapted to permitirradiation of the skin retained in the form of a flap with the laserbeam. The retaining means in this case has no particular restrictionexcept for a requirement that it be capable of transforming the skininto a flap and compressing and meanwhile retaining the skin sotransformed into the flap. It may be, therefore, constructed ofsomething like tongs of a transparent substance pervious to the laserbeam (hereinafter referred to simply as “transparent substance 38 ),something like tongs provided with an opening allowed to confront theskin transformed into a flap, or a suction pipe adapted to produce anegative pressure in the interior thereof and formed of a transparentsubstance. When what resembles tongs is used as the retaining means, theskin is compressed and meanwhile retained in the form of a flap byhaving the skin pinched between the opposite leading terminals of theretaining means. When the suction pipe having a flat generally ellipticcross section, for example, is used as the retaining means, the skintransformed into a flap inside the suction pipe is compressed andmeanwhile retained by making the skin to be sucked into the suctionpipe. Since the retaining means constructed as tongs or an absorptionpipe is provided with an opening opposite the skin to be retained in theform of a flap or with a part formed of a transparent substance, theskin retained in the form of a flap can be freely irradiated externallywith the laser beam.

Alternatively, the retaining means may be constructed by utilizing aroller which is capable of rotating. For example, the retaining meanscan be formed of a roller which is enabled to rotate by being connectedto a driving means and a plate member separated from the roller across aminute distance and disposed parallelly to the rotational axis of theroller. Specifically, a retaining means having attached to one of theleading terminal faces of an implement shaped like tongs a roller havinga rotational axis parallel to the other leading terminal face. In thisretaining means, by turning the roller in the direction of rolling inthe skin, the skin transformed in the form of a flap can be compressedand meanwhile pinched between the roller and the plate member.Otherwise, a retaining means can be constructed by causing a pair ofrollers at least either of which is connected to a driving means to bedisposed as separated from each other across a minute distance and, atthe same time, enabled to have the rotational axes thereof laidparallelly to each other. Also in this case, by the rotating force ofthe roller, the skin is rolled in and the skin transformed in the formof a flap is pinched between the two rollers. Incidentally, in thiscase, by forming part of the roller or the plate member with atransparent substance, it is made possible to irradiate the skinexternally with the laser beam.

Preferably, the skin retaining device mentioned above is provided at theposition thereof confronting the skin retained, in the form of a flapwith a laser beam emitting terminal. By combining the skin retainingdevice including tongs, a roller, or a suction part as a retaining meanswith the laser emitting terminal in one integral piece, it is madepossible to carry out continuously the work of “transforming part of theskin into a flap” or “irradiating the skin transformed into a flap withthe laser beam” and consequently improve the work of depilation inefficiency. More preferably, the laser emitting terminal is adapted toscan automatically the whole surface of the skin transformed into amembrane. By so doing, the work of depilation can be expected to enjoy afurther improvement in efficiency. Incidentally, for the purpose ofalleviating the burden on the skin of the subject, the surface of theretaining means of this invention which is fated to contact the skin ispreferred to be endowed with elasticity of a fixed magnitude.

Further, in the method of depilation explained above, the reflectingmember for reflecting the laser beam is preferred to be disposed behindthe region of the skin transformed into a flap and enabled to use thelaser beam for irradiation. Consequently, the efficiency of depilationis allowed to be further improved because the laser beam which haspenetrated the skin transformed into a flap is emitted again into theinterior of the skin.

Though a popular reflecting mirror is used fully satisfactorily as thereflecting member in the present case, a glove or finger sacks adaptedto reflect the laser beam on the outer surface thereof proves to beconvenient for a person performing the method of laser depilation whenhe wears them during the course of the work. When the glove or thefinger sacks constructed as described above are used, it is madepossible to obtain the effect produced by the reflecting membermentioned above by simply retaining the skin in the form of a flap witha hand, placing a finger behind the skin, and irradiating the skinfronting this finger with the laser beam. For the purpose of obtainingthis effect, the glove is not always required to be capable ofreflecting the laser beam on the whole surface thereof but is onlyrequired to be capable of reflecting the laser beam on the part of“cushion” of the finger to be used in pinching the skin. Incidentally,the reflecting member may be used as combined with the skin retainingdevice mentioned above in one integral piece. What is obtained byproviding an emitting terminal on the inner lateral surface of aretaining means shaped like tongs and, at the same time, forming aspecular surface on the inner side of the retaining means, for example,may be regarded as a combination of a reflecting member with a skinretaining device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for aiding the description of one modeof embodying the method for laser depilation according to thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for aiding the description of anothermode of embodying the method of laser depilation according to thisinvention.

FIG. 3 is a photomacrograph illustrating the cross section of a skinwhich has been depilated by the method of laser depilation according tothis invention.

FIG. 4 is a photomacrograph illustrating the cross section of a skinwhich has been depilated by the conventional method.

BEST MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

Now, the modes of embodying the method for laser beautificationaccording to this invention will be described below with reference tothe drawings attached hereto. The reduplicating parts which occur in thefollowing description of the modes of embodiment will be denotedrespectively by identical reference numerals and will be omitted fromthe following description. The following description to be given belowconcerns the method of laser depilation. Since the removal of abirthmark with laser or the removal of a crease with laser can beeffected by substantially the same method, the implements to bedescribed hereinbelow are applicable to the method for removal of acrease or for removal of a birthmark with laser.

FIG. 1 represents one mode of embodying the method for laser depilationaccording to this invention. In this method, as illustrated in FIG. 1,an operator of this method is supposed to pinch a skin 2 of a subjectwith his own hand 1 and pull out the pinched hair 2 so as to extend partof the skin 2 in the form of a flap and then compress the skin 2 sotransformed into a flap and meanwhile carry out the laser depilation.This operator wears on the hand 1 a glove 3 which is formed of a rubbercomposition incorporating therein a powder capable of reflecting thelaser beam. To the outer surface of this glove 3 is pasted a film 4 ofspecular surface as a reflecting member.

When part of the skin 2 has been transformed into a flap as illustratedin FIG. 1, the region now assuming the form of a flap is irradiated withthe laser beam. At this time, the laser beam is preferred to be emittedat an angle nearly perpendicular to the skin of the part transformedinto the flap. The laser beam possibly penetrates the skin 2, dependingon the thickness of the skin 2 transformed into the flap. When theoperator places his fingers as illustrated in the diagram behind theskin 2 transformed into the flap, the laser beam which has penetratedthe skin can be reflected by the specular film pasted to the surface ofthe glove 3 into the skin 2 transformed into the flap. The laserdepilation is carried out in the manner described above.

Incidentally, in the present mode of embodiment, the glove 3 has thespecular film 4 pasted to the whole outer surface thereof. So long asthe specular film 4 is pasted at least to the parts of 37 cushions” ofan index finger and a middle finger, it can produce an effectsubstantially equal to the effect mentioned above. The method ofdepilation mentioned above can be implemented by using a protectivecover resembling finger sacks in the place of the glove 3.

FIG. 2 represents another mode of embodying the method of depilationaccording to the present invention. This method is intended to effectthe art of beautification by the use of a skin retaining device 5.

This skin retaining device 5 is provided with a retaining means 6 and ahand piece 7 adapted to effect emission of laser. The retaining means 6is shaped like tongs and is fitted in the handle part thereof with aswitch 8. It is further provided at the leading terminal thereof with aretaining surface 9 of large width which is enabled by pinching andcompressing the skin 2 to facilitate the retention of the skin 2 in theform of a flap. To the retaining surface 9 which confronts the innerside of the retaining means 6, the mirror 4 is pasted as a reflectingmember.

The hand piece 7 is connected to a laser oscillator omitted fromillustration herein and, at the same time, attached to either of theretaining means 6. The retaining surface 9 on the side allowing theattachment of the hand piece 7 is provided with a window part 10 formedof a transparent substance. An emitting terminal 11 of the hand piece 7is adapted to advance through the window part 10 and confront the skin 2transformed into a flap when it pinches the skin 2 against the retainingsurface 9 on the inside of the retaining means 6. This hand piece 7 isenabled by an unshown scanning mechanism provided in the retaining meansto scan the whole skin appearing through the window part 10.Incidentally, the laser emission is started or stopped by means of anunshown foot switch disposed beside the operator foot. The scanning ofthe skin 2 by the laser emitting terminal 11 through the window part 10can be carried out at an arbitrary timing by means of the switch 8 whichis disposed outside the retaining means 6.

The method for laser depilation which resorts to this laser emittingdevice 5 is implemented as follows. Specifically, the operator of thismethod is enabled by pinching and compressing the skin 2 of a subject toretain part of the skin 2 in the form of a thin flap between theretaining surfaces 9. The operator, then In the ensuant state, fulfillsrequired depilation by manipulating the switch 8 and inducing emissionof the laser beam. At this time, the laser beam which has penetrated theskin 2 is reflected by the mirror disposed on the inside of theretaining surface 9 and permitted to contribute again to the treatmentof depilation. Although the present mode of embodiment as describedabove has the hand piece 7 attached to only one terminal of theretaining means 6 shaped like tongs, it is naturally permissible to havehand pieces 7 attached one each to the opposite terminals.

EXAMPLE

The cross section of a skin which has undergone laser depilation by themethod according to this invention (the method avoiding use of a laseremitting device) is illustrated photomacrographically in FIG. 3. It isclearly noted from this photograph that this method brings the effect ofthe laser beam even to a deep region of the skin and induces rupture ofa hair root situated at a depth of about 6 mm from the surface of theskin.

Comparative Experiment

The cross section of a skin which has undergone laser depilation by theconventional method is illustrated photomacrographically in FIG. 4. Itis clearly noted from the photograph that this method brings the effectof the laser beam only to a shallow region of the skin as compared withthat of FIG. 3. In the photograph of FIG. 4, the symbol (A) representsthe hair prior to the treatment and the symbol (B) represents the airsubsequent to the treatment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION

The method of laser beautification according to this invention isenabled by an extremely simple procedure of transforming part of thehair into a thin flap to emit the laser beam to the root of the hair asclosely approximated to the surface of the skin. It, therefore, permitsthe laser beam to reach a deep position without having to use the laserbean in a high output. Further, the use of the reflecting member resultsin permitting utilization of the laser beam without waste and realizinghighly efficient depilation. By using the glove having the outer surfacethereof coated with a reflecting substance or by using the skinretaining device, it is made possible to improve the efficiency of thetreatment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for laser depilation which effectsremoval of a hair from the skin of a subject by exposure of said hair toa laser beam, characterized by comprising the steps of pulling out saidskin of the subject and compressing the drawn skin thereby transformingpart of said skin into a flap and attaining required depilation byirradiating the region of said skin transformed into said flap with saidlaser beam.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a reflectingmember for reflecting said laser beam is disposed behind the region ofsaid skin transformed into said flap prior to the emission of said laserbeam.